5.29 but maybe I should just do 4.88

i just got a 2020 Offroad auto. I with thinking of putting in new gears in it. I have 275/70/17 so 32.2. I will be putting on a front and maybe a rear bumper at some point. I will also probably pull a teardrop most weekend in the summer. Just wonder if I should go with my original through of 5.29 or just do a 4.88 swap! Does anyone have any experience with this setup. I am pretty sure I will not go with larger wheels. I am happy with my winter nokians and my summer gen grabbers at this size.

 

I’d say 4.88 but the difference rlly isn’t that much between 4.88 and 5.29 when considering the jump from factory 3.91 to 4.88.

 

I have no re-gear, but am on 31.6 with stock gearing. I can’t imagine screaming down the highway with the engine at high RPMs with 5.29 gearing and 32” tires. I’d look at the charts that state engine RPMs at various cruising speeds, with various tire sizes, and make an informed decision. High RPMs are annoying and kill your fuel economy.

I thought the rule of thumb was 4.88s for anything under 33”, but what do I know?

 

IMHO 5.29s should be the first mod every Tacoma owner should do, right after wheels and tires, regardless of tire size (31s thru 37s). Better acceleration and most importantly better shifting, not hunting for gears. My $.02

 

What about RPMs on the freeway? Would you really want 5.29’s with 31’s?

 

For me and my driving style? Yes! I would. I don't drive past 70 mph, and if I do, it's for a short period of time. I tow, so that help me a lot. The best part is, I actually enjoy driving my truck better now than I did bone stock. If I could do it all over again, it would be one of my first mod. Unfortunately, I waited 3 years before doing it

 

4:88's was one of my first mods. I'm happy with them. I have stock 31" tires and I may go up to 33's someday. The main reason for regearing was to smooth out the shifts and to compensate for the added weight of my truck camper. I like driving fast, so I'm happy with more top speed (unlike 5:29s with a top out of something like 88 mph).

Although, I don't have experience on 5:29s, but I can imagine I'd want them if I wanted a slower crawl speed or larger tires.

 

I have been researching this for weeks. Most guys aren’t actually driving in 6th on the freeway. I know my truck isn’t. The 5.29 will cruse in 6th at 70mph at 2,100 RPM with 33 inch tires.

The issue is the the 3 gen has two overdrive gears. 6th gear is so tall I only hit it when the truck is hunting or when I’m headed down a steep hill. Had I driven my truck on the freeway before I bought it, I would have bought a 150. Period. That’s how bad the gearing in that truck is.

I finally pulled the trigger on a 5.29 last night. I tow a lot owning a race car and dump trailer, but after my research I’d buy the 5.29 either way.

 

I ran them with stock tires (30.5) for about 6 months. Loved it.

 

I Heard to speedof 5.29’s is 86mph.. is that true?

 

I looked at the chart already. I do appreciate the feed back. As for a rule of 33” I have found some people say 35” is the rule. This is what is so frustrating.

I will be doing highway when driving from AK to south of 60 into Canada over the rocky towing a teardrop trailer.. At the same time I will drive it daily as well. When in AK on the weekend I will also be camping.

 

Appreciate the input. I probably don’t go over about 75. Maybe 80 to pass. My car on the other hand I had a habit or going over that. But I no longer will be drive that.

 

I have a few more weeks before pull the plug on this decision. I have and will appreciate all the feedback. I will continue to resource this to help me make the decision.

I have also reached out to nitro to see what they have to say as well. I found on their website they quote weekend warrior and the 33” go 4.88. I still asked my question to them. I will see what they reply with.

 

I recommend 5.29. I’m glad Nitro made them but it was due to customer demand. For a long time Nitro said 5.29 was too low. They have since changed positions because of us.

I personally recommend 5.29 for anyone running the AT with larger than stock tires.

You’ll find many people regretting the 4.88 and wishing they went 5.29. You won’t find anyone with 5.29s wishing they went 4.88.

 

towing a race car and dump trailer, why was the Taco even a consideration. Not hating but id be rolling in a Tundra or F250.

 

Thanks for the history on nitro. Being that I have only seen info of them saying yes do a swap, this is good information.

I am never truly going to be a off road guy, I just want to be able to have the truck work well for my adventures around AK, Canada and lower 48 with my tiny teardrop.

I feel people worry about the mileage a lot with the 5.29 vs 4.88. Really you get cr@p mileage with a truck hunting for gears all the time as well. Not to mention it is a truck they suck for mileage. Also the taco that really is a 20year old truck Toyota is making way too much money on.

 

I went down the 4.88 rabbit hole, then found out about 5.29s and did the same. I read the respective mega threads on both front to back. There are a lot of 5.29 disciples out there, but the feeling I got is that most of the folks that say 5.29 is good for everyone usually aren't focused on high speed highway driving.

I love light to medium wheeling, but I use my truck mostly to deliver myself and my gear to various trailheads or ski resorts. I'm not planning on going larger than 32s anytime soon. I also talked a number of folks who had both sets of gears installed. Those with my similar setup and habits said 4.88s + OVT was perfect.

There isn't a right answer. The difference is a slim margin and which side you fall on will depend on how you want to use the truck.

 

6 speed auto has 2 overdrive gears. Rpms
Will be much lower than expected with 5.29 gears.

 

Simply because I live in San Francisco half of the year and Chico the other half. Driving and parking a full-size truck in town is an absolute nightmare. I used to have a truck and a car, but I found every time I took my car home I needed my truck.

With the new suspension, and now the ring gear on the way I have no doubt the taco will do everything I want it to. My old truck got 12 on the highway so anything better is a bonus.

 

I'm gonna be in the shop building my truck up starting on the 1st. Will be running 285/75/16 33" tires and ordered 5.29's I can't wait. After all the research i've done i'm convince i'll love it. Both for Daily driving, and for Towing.